The Gunners looked to have missed out on Arteta after Everton rejected a bid for their star midfielder, but the Spaniard forced the issue and Arsenal reached an agreement with their Barclays Premier League rivals before the 11pm deadline, confirming they had signed the 29-year-old on a four-year contract.

They also reportedly snubbed a £10million cash offer until the player himself made his feelings clear. Toffees boss David Moyes told his club's official website, www.evertonfc.com: "Mikel indicated to me that he wished to join Arsenal if a bid came in. I am very disappointed to lose him but the prospect of Champions League football was something I wasn't able to offer him."

The Gunners are said to have initially offered Nicklas Bendtner - who ultimately joined Sunderland on a season-long loan - in a part-exchange deal, something rejected out of hand by Everton.

Arteta's signing followed hot on the heels of that of Yossi Benayoun after the Chelsea midfielder signed a season-long loan deal at the Emirates Stadium.

That took Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's deadline-day recruits to four after defenders Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos Put the finishing touches to their moves.

The signings will help appease fans following one of the club's worst starts to a season in recent memory, which culminated in Sunday's 8-2 humiliation at Manchester United.

Arteta and Benayoun are arguably like-for-like replacements in terms of style to the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

Israel captain Benayoun tweeted before resuming international duty: "I sign with Arsenal, very happy and excited about it, but now my head is only in the game against Greece on Friday, thanks for the support."

Henri Lansbury joined West Ham on a season-long loan, new signing Joel Campbell was farmed out to Lorient, where fellow youngster Gilles Sunu completed a permanent move.